The Augusta University Cinema Series made an impact on a young Matthew Buzzell.
“It was pre-Internet, and it helped me dip my toes into the world. It was not as easy then as it is now with the click of a button,” said Buzzell, AU associate professor of film and director of the series that is set to re-open Aug. 26. “It opened my mind to thought and culture.”
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Buzzell, who spent 16 years as a filmmaker in Los Angeles before moving back to his hometown a decade ago, spends a great deal of time preparing for the season. So far, he’s only released the titles of the first three screenings.
“GUNDA,” a documentary about a sow and her piglets will be shown at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Augusta University Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre.
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“Shot in lustrous black and white, executive produced by Joaquin Phoenix and championed by Paul Thomas Anderson, GUNDA is a beautiful documentary portrait of a sow and her piglets, a one-legged chicken and some cows,” is the film’s description.
Buzzell said one unusual thing about the picture is there is no narration. It’s all videography.
“Ailey” will be featured at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sept. 9. The film takes a look at African-American dance pioneer Alvin Ailey.
And the third film on the schedule is “Cryptozoo,” an animated featured that will be screened at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sept. 23. The work is by comic book writer/artist/filmmaker Dash Shaw, whose “vibrant, fantastical animated feature follows cryptozookeepers.”
Buzzell said he is constantly reading and researching films that might be of interest to people locally but won’t be shown on screens in Augusta. He tries to keep it fresh by screening new releases. In some cases, they’ve been shown at Augusta University before they’ve been seen in larger cities such as Atlanta and Columbia.
Other highlights of the season include the annual Halloween-themed double feature, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 30.
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“It’s our most popular event,” he said.
It will feature films that are off the beaten path.
“It’s not ‘The Conjuring,’” he said.
Prior to the annual Academy Awards is another full-day event featuring screenings of all the nominated short films.
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The season’s April finale will showcase a Saturday full of jazz films. Often the finale brings together more than film. Buzzell said details haven’t been finalized, but he would like to have a live jazz component in addition to the movies.
Thanks to the support of the Bee’s Knees, the film series is free not only to Augusta University students, faculty and staff, but to the general public as well, Buzzell said.
Updates to the film series will be available at https://www.facebook.com/CinemaSeriesAUG and on Instagram @cinemaseriesaug.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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